The Role of DICAM in the Migration of Immune Cells into the Central Nervous System in MS

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$300,000
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Quebec
Researcher(s)
Dr. Alexandre Prat
Research Priorities
Life-modifying therapies
Impact Goal(s)
Understand and Halt Disease Progression

Affiliation(s): Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

Summary:  

  • In MS, harmful immune cells are able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and cause damage to the brain.  

  • Dr. Alexandre Prat and team have identified a novel molecule called DICAM that facilitates the migration of pro-inflammatory immune cells from the blood to the brain. The team aims to uncover how DICAM contributes to neuroinflammation and MS disease activity. Furthermore, since DICAM is only associated with harmful immune cells, they will test if targeting DICAM could improve MS symptoms while having minimal side effects. 

  • If proven to be effective, this research will provide pre-clinical evidence that DICAM is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of MS. 

Project Description:  

The blood-brain barrier normally protects the brain from harmful substances present in the blood by controlling their passage into the central nervous system. In MS, harmful immune cells are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause damage to the brain tissue. Restricting the movement of these harmful immune cells to the brain can potentially prevent injury, slow the progression of MS, and reduce its symptoms. 

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are involved in the movement of immune cells from the blood to the brain. Dr. Alexandre Prat and team have identified a novel CAM molecule, called DICAM, that is found on a population of immune cells known as myeloid cells which include monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. DICAM also seems to specifically play a role in the migration of pro-inflammatory immune cells into the brain, particularly lymphocytes, which are associated with the relapsing-remitting form of MS. 

In this study, the team will expand on their previous work and investigate how DICAM mediates the migration of myeloid cells into the brain, which are immune cells associated with progressive forms of MS. The researchers will use cells and animal models to demonstrate how DICAM contributes to neuroinflammation and MS disease activity. Furthermore, since DICAM is only associated with harmful immune cells, they will also test if targeting DICAM can improve MS symptoms while having minimal side effects. 

Potential Impact: The findings of this research may provide pre-clinical evidence that DICAM is a promising therapeutic target for relapsing and progressive forms of MS. The study has the potential to set the foundation for a new generation of MS medications that offer therapeutic efficacy with minimal side effects.

Project Status: In Progress